Stranica 130 [130]
94 GRIMM’S FAIRY TALES, .
NE OL EEE ii
ing it. The King summoned him to his presence, and after
many reproaches told him that if by the next day he was not |
able to name the thief he should be considered guilty, and !
punished. It was in vain that he protested his innocence ; he |
could get no better sentence. In his uneasiness and anxiety !
he went out into the courtyard, and began to consider what —
he could do in so great a necessity. There sat the ducks by ©
the running water and rested themselves, and plumed them- |
selves with their flat bills, and held a comfortable chat. The !
servant stayed where he was and listened to them. They told —
how they had waddled about all yesterday morning and found ©
good food ; and then one of them said pitifully,
“Something lies very heavy in my craw,—it is the ring |
that was lying under the Queen’s window ; I swallowed it down |
in too great a hurry.”
Then the servant seized her by the neck, took her into the |
kitchen, and said to the cook, |
“ Kill this one, she is quite ready for cooking.”
- Ves, said the cook, weighing it in her hand; “there !
will be no trouble of fattening this one—it has been ready ever
so long.”
She then slit up its neck, and when it was opened the |
Queen’s ring was found in its craw. The servant could now —
clearly prove his innocence, and in order to make up for the "
injustice he had suffered the King permitted him to ask some ©
favour for himself, and also promised him the place of greatest /
honour in the royal household.
But the servant refused it, and only asked for a horse and ©
money for travelling, for he had a fancy to see the world, and ©
look about hima little. So his request was granted, and he ©
set out on his way; and one day he came to a pool of water, ©
by which he saw three fishes who had got entangled in the ©
rushes, and were panting for water. Although fishes are /
usually considered dumb creatures, he understood very well
their lament that they were to perish so miserably ; and as |
he had a compassionate heart he dismounted from his horse, i
and put the three fishes back again into the water. ‘They ©
quivered all over with joy, stretched out their heads, and )
called out to him, |
c We will remember and reward thee, because thou hast |
;
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